The X130E is a much tougher model of the ThinkPad X120E which I reviewed last year, and is well equipped to handle the hazards of the classroom. While it isn’t rated for it, I could probably drive my car over it and it would keep working.

The portable form factor, incredibly durable build and excellent keyboard pair up with an all day battery to deliver a well equipped solution for the education market.

ThinkPad X130E - Education Geared Netbook

So far, my only complaint about the system is the very touchy and small touchpad, but an external mouse or smaller fingers will help with that.

The ThinkPad X130E I have in for testing uses an AMD E 300 1.3GHz processor, 2GB RAM and has an 11.6 inch display with a 1366×768 resolution. You might think that this system is underpowered, but I didn’t find it sluggish while going about the tasks I would expect students to be doing such as web browsing, note taking, flash heavy websites and running multiple programs at once.

I’ll get into all the features in a second, but as soon as I picked up the X130E I knew it was a well built notebook. Everything about this device feels durable and well built. Even when I tried to flex the base or lid, I came up with white knuckles instead of buckling plastic.

I haven’t given the notebook a proper battery test yet, which will simulate web browsing until the battery dies, but during my daily use I found that it was easy to get 5 to 6 hours of battery life without worrying about screen brightness. I wouldn’t be surprised if this notebook can last the full schoolday with the 6 cell battery.

As I mentioned, the keyboard is rock solid and perfectly sized for students and teachers. The touchpad is a bit small, and it takes some getting used to. So far it is touchy, even though it is a newer clickpad style touchpad.

Education Ready

The ThinkPad X130E is ready for the hands of schoolkids everywhere thanks to a rugged design and the reinforcement of potential break points. Lenovo has also included security features and customization options that schools will appreciate.

After spending a week with the ThinkPad X130, I can attest to the build quality of the notebook. These design features are more than bullet points on a sales sheet.

The keyboard on this notebook is great, not the best ThinkPad keyboard I have used, but pretty close. It certainly blows away consumer notebook keyboards. This island style of keyboard means that the students won’t be able to pull keys off, at least not without a screwdriver and lots of leverage.

Hinges are tested to withstand heavy use.

Lenovo also made the entire system more rugged, starting with the cover and corners. The corners on the X130 are 33% stronger than the x120E and include rubber bumpers to cope with bumps and drops.

The display bezel is thicker, to protect the display from damage while in transport and the hings have been designed to last 30,000 cycles, or 100 times a day. The ports on the notebook include all of those education environments need including Ethernet and HDMI. The ports are recessed, and Lenovo has made the Ethernet port stronger to prevent damage if a pupil pulls the cord out without pressing down on the tab.

The ThinkPad X130E has recessed ports and a stronger Ethernet port.

Administrators will enjoy the security features including TPM, Intel Anti-Theft (only on the higher end model) and a hard drive retention program that lets the user keep drives that fail under warranty so that IT can dispose of data themselves.

The ThinkPad X130E is available today, but you can only get the Red version shown above in large orders for schools, which can choose from other customizations as well. The ThinkPad X130E starts at $429.

Stay Tuned for our full review of the ThinkPad X130E.

ThinkPad X130e Mini Review: Built Like a Tank, Ready for School is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The Edge line remains aimed at the small to medium business user, but we don’t have to compromise on the latest connectivity options; options not found on many other business or consumer Windows notebooks.

With a Thunderbolt port, we can connect high speed storage devices and daisy chain displays using a single connection to the computer. This means we get simplicity and speed in one small port. You’ll notice in the ThinkPad Edge S430 hands on video that this port is called a Displayport++ port, but it is the same thing as a Thunderbolt port.

Lenovo ThinkPad S430 Hands On Video

In addition to sporting the new Thunderbolt port, you get a good looking notebook. Like the rest of the Edge line you get a nice form factor and attention paid to how it feels in your hand.

From a spec standpoint, you get a .08 inch thick frame and a four pound weight that won’t beat out an Ultrabook, but still goes nicely in a backpack.

Buyers can customize the ThinkPad S430 with the latest Intel Core i processors as well as the option to add an NVIDIA GPU with up to 2GB of video RAM. You can also add on a DVD burner and USB 3.0 connectivity.

You’ll be able to purchase the ThinkPad Edge S430 in June with a starting price of $749.

Lenovo ThinkPad S430 Hands-On Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Lenovo is the official sponsor of GottaBeMobile.com and Notebooks.com at CES 2012 and has given us four awesome prizes to giveaway to our great readers. We have two ThinkPad Tablets, a ThinkPad X220 and an IdeaPad U400s.

Enter to Win the ThinkPad X220 at GottaBeMobile.com

Lenovo has announced a number of cool products at CES 2012 like the Thinkpad X1 Hybrid, IdeaPad Yoga, and a number of Ultrabooks and still has a few CES 2012 announcements to come. You can follow our Lenovo CES coverage to see the next big announcement.

We are giving away a ThinkPad tablet and the IdeaPad U400s at Notebooks.com and giving away a ThinkPad Tablet and a ThinkPad X220 at GottaBeMobile. You can enter to win the IdeaPad u400 from us today. Stay tuned for your chance to win the rest of these prizes from Lenovo.

How to Win a IdeaPad U400

Leave a comment telling us what notebook you would replace with the IdeaPad U400.

Comments will not show up immediately.

Contest Rules:

The contest is open to U.S. Residents 18 and over. Contest void where prohibited by law, please check local regulations before entering. The contest will close on Wednesday January 18th at 11:59 PM Pacific. You may only enter once per contest, entering multiple times will disqualify you from the contest.You can enter each contest once.

Win an IdeaPad U400 From Lenovo (CES 2012) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

On the surface, the Hybrid resembles the vanilla Thinkpad X1. However, on the inside, you have up to an Intel Core i7 processor powering Windows 7. Additionally, the instant-on Instant Media Mode, which can be used for media, is powered by an Android-based OS to be a bit more conservative on the OS if you don’t need specialized Windows programs, and utilizes a more power-efficient ARM-based Qualcomm dual-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon processor. On the Instant Media Mode side, there is also 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage.

The 13.3-inch notebook weighs 3.73 pounds. The system has a rapid charge feature that allows you to quickly charge to 80% in just 30 minutes.

You can follow the ThinkPad X1 Hybrid more on this previous post.

CES: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Hybrid Hands-On (Video) is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Notebooks.com.

The X120e is small but capable.

Quick Specs

Inside the X120e you’ll find a speedy 1.6GHz AMD Fusion processor, 4GB RAM and a 320GB hard drive. The 11.6″ display has a 1366 x 768 resolution and is powered by the AMD Radeon HD  6310 GPU, which is built into the Fusion APU.

The X120e starts at $399, and is available in a variety of configurations. This review model retails for around $500.

Who is the ThinkPad X120e For?

The small X120e is designed with the business traveler in mind, but delivers performance perfect for anyone who wants to travel light without making a sacrifice on build quality. The low price tag means that it is easier to find room for the X120e in a strapped budget than a MacBook Air. The feature set and affordability also make the ThinkPad X120e a good option for students.

ThinkPad X120e  Hands On Video

Build and Design

Before Lenovo put the ThinkPad name on the X120e, they beefed up the build quality compared to other ultraportables. Instead of creaks and flexes when you carry the notebook, you will find a very solid construction, one that carries through to the center of the keyboard and the display frame.

ThinkPad X120e Open

Metal hinges keep the display in position and firmly closed while in transport. There is no rubber seal around the entire display as some business notebooks have these days, but the four bumpers do a sufficient job of keeping the display from pressing against the keys.

Features:

AMD Fusion – The AMD Fusion processor is one of the highlights of the X120e because it is able to deliver enough performance to cover work and play, without leaving your waiting for your computer to catch up.

Long Battery Life – The optional 6 cell battery is capable of delivering up to 6 hours of battery life so you can get through a cross-country flight and still have time to check your email before you hail a taxi.

Portability – The small size is another great feature. Even though the 6 cell battery pokes out the back of the unit you still have a 3 pound notebook that won’t ask you to wait and won’t run out of juice in a matter of hours.

Display

ThinkPad X120e Display Head On

When you first look at the 11.6″ display on the X120e, you’ll notice that you have a decently high 1366 x 768 resolution and an anti-glare finish which keeps reflections from getting in the way of your mobile productivity.

The viewing angles are pretty good side to side, which allows you to share the display if you need, but keep in mind an 11.6″ display is best for one person, not a small group. The vertical viewing angles drop off rather quick, but the ability to position the display at almost any angle, this is not a major issue.

Keyboard and Touchpad

ThinkPad X120e keyboard and TrackPoint

The X120e keyboard borrows heavily from the ThinkPad X series, which means you have a better than average typing experience on such a small notebook. Spacing and travel on the keys is fairly good, though there were times that keystrokes were not registered. Even with the occasional keystroke issues Lenovo has made a small keyboard we want in every 11″ notebook.

We wish the top row of keys was set up like the rest of the ThinkPad X series, so that the function keys were top billing and the F keys were secondary. This nice on full size notebooks, but even nicer on smaller notebooks.

The touchpad on the X120e is incredibly small, thanks to the small form factor. Even with the small size and small buttons the touchpad is usable for short periods and the TrackPoint pointing stick is very precise. These pointing options are very usable, but most users will want to invest in a decent travel mouse, especially for web browsing or working on PowerPoints for extended times.

Processor and Performance

ThinkPad X120e Internals

As we mentioned, the AMD Fusion processor is the real star of the show on this ultraportable notebook. By combining a discrete class AMD Radeon GPU to the notebook you are able to handle graphically rich tasks without issues. We could playback 720P flash video and 1080P local video without issues. This is thanks to a fix Lenovo issued shortly after the launch of the X120e.

When it comes to multitasking on business documents, the X120e is also powerful enough to let you work on a few Office documents without slowdown. Thanks to the resolution you can, in a pinch, compare to word documents side by side. In all the X120e will meet the needs of most managers and traveling professionals, so long as you don’t need to get too creative with media files.

Multimedia and Gaming

We were pretty impressed with the performance of this ultraportable notebook. We were able to watch Hulu at 480P full screen on an external monitor while working on the X120e’s main display without any stuttering on the video side. While watching Hulu or listening to Pandora there were some times where audio would stutter. This happened two or three times during an episode of The Daily Show.

Audio and Speakers

The included speakers leave a lot to be desired. While you do get a decent mids to highs there is absolutely no low-end and the volume tops out way to early. While listening to Lightning Crashes by Live we felt like we felt like we had gone back in time, listening on a friend’s crappy car stereo. Attaching external speakers overcame the volume limitation, but didn’t do much to improve the quality of the audio.

Heat and Noise

Use the X120e for about a half an hour and you’ll notice that the fan will kick on, but if you are in a room with any other noise it won’t be loud enough to disturb you. After watching 15 minutes of Hulu the palmrest and the base of the unit were still cool enough to keep working.

Battery Life

ThinkPad X120e 6-cell Battery

If you are looking for a portable solution we recommend the 6 cell battery. With the 6 cell battery that shipped with our review unit we were able to keep working for most of the work day.

During our web browsing test, which simulates web surfing with the screen set at 40% brightness, the X120e was able to last  6 hours and 4 minutes. Adding flash or any other video into the mix will reduce the battery life significantly.

Connectivity

For a small notebook you get a decent number of ports, including a HDMI connection for connecting to external displays and HDTVs with ease.

ThinkPad X120e right side ports

Right side: SD Card Reader, USB Sleep and Charge, USB 2.0

ThinkPad X120e left side ports

Left side: Kensington, Vent, HDMI, USB 2.0, Ethernet, Mic/Headphone Jack

ThinkPad X120e back side ports

Back side: Power, VGA

Webcam

ThinkPad X120e webcam

The built in webcam performs admirably in low light settings, accurately displaying our face to callers on Skype without the need for another light source. The VOIP settings are easy to call up with a function key combo, but the notebook doesn’t include the smart VOIP software common on most X series notebooks these days. Still, in a small package it works well.

Software

When it comes to software the X120e keeps thing simple. There is no crapware installed from the factory, which we would expect on a business notebook. There are a collection of ThinkPad tools, like the ThinkVantage toolbox to control VOIP, battery and other system options.

Warranty

You can purchase warranty options on the X120e to found on many consumer notebooks. As with the rest of the ThinkPad line look for warranty options up to four years and including next day on site service. These prices will add to the cost of the X120e, but for businesses that build a warranty into the purchase price there are a variety of options to fit your price and needs.

Value

With a starting price of right near $400 there’s no debating the price of this unit. While it can be hard to swallow a $500 price tag on a netbook sized device it would be an unfair comparison to call the X120e a netbook. You would be better off comparing it to ultraportable notebooks, where it offers a low barrier to entry.

ThinkPad X120e Display Half Open

Conclusion

The X120e is an impressive piece of hardware. We love having a ThinkPad keyboard on such a small and well-built machine, especially at $500. The AMD Fusion processor gives this mini notebook the power needed to tackle business tasks and entertainment at the end of the day. The corporate black look may turn off some users, but you’re buying a business tool, not a fashion accessory.

Pros:

• ThinkPad Keyboard
• Good Performance in a Small Package
• Strong Build Quality
• Battery Life

Cons:

• Small TouchPad
• Audio Stuttering and Low Max Volume

ThinkPad X120e Gallery

ThinkPad X120e Detailed Specs

Lenovo ThinkPad X120e Review: Affordable Ultraportable for Business is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The ThinkPad Edge E220s is available from Lenovo as reviewed for $805 on sale or $949 with a Core i7 processor. These prices reflect instant savings and discounts, but are representative of the average price for a ThinkPad Edge E220s.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Quick Specs

The ThinkPad Edge E220s we have in for review comes with a 1.4 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM and a 320GB hard drive. The E220s uses the integrated Intel 3000 graphics which deliver enough graphical power for most business uses and includes the ability to use Wireless Display 2.0 to stream HD to your HDTV with a $99 WiDi 2.0 adapter.

Who is the ThinkPad Edge E220s For?

The ThinkPad Edge E220s is designed with the business user in mind, especially business users who want a notebook powerful enough to handle tasks in the office and small enough to travel anywhere they go. The E220s will fit in particularly well for small businesses where costs are especially important, as well as in the corporate environment as a cheaper portable option.

Students would also do well to check out the E220s which can easily fit in a backpack to go to class or on a roadtrip.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Hands On Video

ThinkPad Edge E220s Build and Design

The edge E220s looks and feels more expensive than it really is. The lid is covered in a soft rubber that carries over to the palmrest and the base of the unit. Chrome edges accent the black finish, giving the notebook a higher end look that is complimented by edge to edge Infinity glass that covers the display. Unfortunately both the black finish on the exterior and the Infinity glass are fingerprint magnets.

From a durability standpoint, the E220s lives up to the ThinkPad name with a very solid feel throughout and a sturdy build that carries through the center of the keyboard, an area that flexes on many consumer notebooks.

Metal hinges complement the chrome accents and keep the screen in the position you open it to. One downside is the limited angle at which you can open the display. This limits your ability to find the perfect viewing angle while working on the go, especially when you have the notebook on your lap.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Features

Optimized VOIP Controls – Dial in the microphones to only listen to you, or open up the conversation to the entire room with the easy to use VOIP controls on the Edge E220s.

Spill Resistant Keyboard – The keyboard can handle a small spill without frying the notebook. Especially important on a small notebook like the E220s, which begs to be used at the coffee shop or while eating dinner on a business trip.

Dolby Home Theater v4 – Get better than average sound, even over the built in speakers. Plug in a good pair of headphones to really appreciate this feature.

Fingerprint Reader – If you need to keep your notebook secure, tie your login to the built in fingerprint reader.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Display

The display on the E220s is 12.5″ like the X220 and IdeaPad U260 notebooks and it has the same 1366 x 768 resolution. The edge to edge Infinity glass may help the notebook look high-end, but it is a glossy fingerprint magnet which limits viewing angles and your choice of workplace.

Both side to side and vertical viewing angles suffer drastically when you get outside of the head on experience. On a 12″ ultraportable this is not a deal breaker, but if you commonly need to share a screen you will be disappointed.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Keyboard and Touchpad

The Edge E220s delivers a stellar typing experience thanks to good travel, key spacing and feel. The keyboard on the Edge notebooks isn’t quite the same as the ThinkPad workhorse lineup, but it is still one of the best available. Despite the small size you still get a full keyboard with a top function row that is defaulted to common actions. The keyboard is not backlit, but the Edge E220s does have the traditional ThinkPad light built in which will partially light up your keyboard. It’s also worth noting that this keyboard is spill resistant, which is a nice feature for anyone who drinks near their notebook.

The only issue we have with the keyboard is the inclusion of the PgUp and PgDn keys which are crammed in near the arrow keys causing a number of errant paging up and paging down. It would be nice to see a style similar to the ThinkPad X1, where these keys are recessed, or to see them removed.

The E220s has a touchpad and a TrackPoint pointing stick, allowing users to choose their preferred pointing method. The TrackPoint system delivers precise mousing and works just as you would expect a ThinkPad pointing stick to.

The touchpad on the E220s is a clickable touchpad that is able to overcome many of the complaints we have with this style of touchpad on Windows notebooks. Unlike other clickable touchpads we have used, there were no errant clicks from due to picky left and right click zones. We also like that you can set up two and three finger click gestures. This is the first clickable touchpad on a Windows notebook that just works the way you would expect it to.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Processor and Performance

When it comes to power and performance the 2nd gen core i5 Intel processor is able to handle all of the business tasks we threw at it from large excel sheets and multiple numerous tabbed Chrome windows to editing videos and touching up photos with the included Windows Live Movie Maker and Windows Live Photo Gallery.

This is definitely an ultraportable system which has enough pep to let you get work done without waiting for a program to load or your actions to register on-screen. We pushed the ThinkPad Edge E220s as hard as we would a full size notebook and it held its own when it came to business tasks.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Multimedia and Gaming

When it comes to multimedia playback, the E220s was able to handle a 1080P HD clip from Wall-E without any stuttering or playback issues. While you can’t play a DVD, due to the lack of an optical drive, the E220s can serve as your multimedia hub while on the go. The included HDMI port will allow you to connect to a hotel HDTV while traveling.

When it comes to gaming, you’re better off looking for a more capable notebook, but the new Intel integrated graphics can handle some casual gameplay from less demanding games, but don’t expect to play the latest and greatest.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Audio and Speakers

The E220s includes the same Dolby Home Theater v4 sound technology found on the ThinkPad X1, which provides a better than average sound experience. The sound quality wasn’t as good as we experienced on the X1, but it is still much better than we have heard on many business notebooks.

Plugging in a decent pair of headphones allows you to get an additional bump in sound quality and further enjoy the numerous Dolby Home Theater v4 settings like surround sound and dialogue enhancement, which makes it easier to hear actors talking in movies with lots of background noise.

You’re not going to replace your home stereo, but the Edge E220s is able to deliver a good audio experience in a small package.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Heat and Noise

Heat can be a big issue on small notebooks, but the E220s handles it well. After watching a half hour of video on Hulu the palmrest was still cool and the bottom of the notebook was only slightly warmer than during normal use; not enough to cause concern with the notebook on your lap.

The fan was quiet and went unnoticed for our time with the E220s.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Battery Life

The ThinkPad Edge E220s has a sealed battery which is able to deliver an adequate 5 hours and 10 minutes of battery life using the Laptop Mag Battery Test which simulates web browsing with the display set at 40% brightness.

The battery won’t get you through a full day, so you will need to make sure you can find a power outlet in the afternoon.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Connectivity

From a connectivity standpoint the E220s has a good collection of ports. Notably, Lenovo had to leave an optical drive out of the Edge E220s in order to deliver a smaller form factor, but was able to keep the rest of the ports you would expect on a portable business notebook.

Left: Power, SD Card, Ethernet, VGA, USB Sleep and Charge, Headphone Mic Combo jack

Right: USB 2.0, USB 2.0/eSATA, HDMI, Vent, Kensington

ThinkPad Edge E220s Webcam

The Edge E220s has a low light webcam that performed well in most situations. You can see a sample image taken with the webcam below. It’s no replacement for a higher quality webcam, but for a notebook of this size it performs as well enough you can see my stubble.

The real magic comes from the built in VOIP software which allows you to focus the microphone on yourself, ignoring background noise, or to listen to the entire room and act as a speakerphone. We’ve seen this in action on the X220 and the X1, but it is still impressive to have a conversation over the built in Mic without the person on the other end of the call hearing coworkers and background noise.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Software

We like the fact that the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E220s sticks to business with a lack of extra software installed from the factory. Our review model came with the ThinkVantage toolbox, which you’ll find on most ThinkPad notebooks, but not much else. This toolbox includes the VOIP optimization software we mentioned above as well as other system tools for controlling security, battery life and backup and restore options.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Warranty

Like most notebooks the ThinkPad Edge E220s comes with a standard one year warranty, but businesses will appreciate the ability to add an extended warranty up to three years, and opt for extras like accidental damage protection and on site repair service. Warranty pricing varies with coverage, but runs up to $279 for a three-year depot warranty.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Value

There’s no question that the $800 Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E220s offers a great value to business users and students. The compact size, hearty performance and wonderful keyboard come together in a package that makes us wonder how Lenovo can offer it all for this price.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Conclusion

The ThinkPad Edge E220s isn’t the thinnest or lightest business notebook, but the whole package comes together very nicely. We definitely wish that the display wasn’t glossy and that the battery lasted longer than 5 hours, but the great keyboard and sexy looks compensate well. If you want an ultraportable that won’t break your budget, the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E220s is one of our top picks.

Pros:

• Nice looks and build quality
• Great keyboard
• Sound and VOIP software
• Price

Cons:

• Glossy display with poor viewing angles
• Only 5 hour battery life

ThinkPad Edge E220s Gallery:

ThinkPad Edge E220s Detailed Specs:

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E220s Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

21 Awesome Tech Gift Ideas for Dad

If you order within the next week most of these gifts will arrive in time for Father’s Day 2011 which is on Sunday June 19th.

Verbatim Tuff N Tiny USB Flash Drive – $10 and up

The Verbatim Tuff N Tiny USB Flash Drive has become our go to drive for two reasons. It is tough and as you can guess, it is tiny. We have it attached to the our key ring and so it is always there. Because of its size we barely notice it. Because of how tough it is we don’t worry about breaking it. We tested this drive and really beat it up. Our data was safe despite dunking it in water, stomping on it, and plunging into dirt. The drives start at $22 for a 2GB model and range on up to $158 for the 32GB model. But you can find them cheaper on Amazon.

Mimobots – $22 and up

If you are looking for a thumbdrive that shows off dad’s love for comics or science fiction, then you need to check out the licensed Mimibot thumb drives. These incredibly detailed drives don’t just carry your documents, they show off your geeky side with licences from Star Wars, Marvel and more.

We’ve been using several of these drives over the past few weeks and everyone we show them to loves the fun look of the Mimobots. The drives look as good in person as they do on the Mimibot website and with a large collection of characters you have a good chance at finding dad’s favorite comic book hero. The backside of the drive is flat enough we could use it with the MacBook Air, which sits close to a table, but if you are trying to plug into the recessed ports on some desktops you may have trouble.

iPhone, Android & iPad Protection – $30 and up

Some of our favorite cases for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices come from Speck and OtterBox. These two companies offer a range of solutions for multiple Android devices and the every popular iPhone. Speck offers a collection of colorful and fun cases mainly focused on Apple products, offering all types of looks and protection.

OtterBox on the other hand is known for their incredible protection for devices including drop protection. For fathers who work in construction, like to go outdoors or are just rough with their phones, an OtterBox case is the perfect gift.

ScotteVest Travel Vests and Jackets – $25 and up

It wouldn’t be a Father’s Day gift guide without ScotteVest travel vests, jackets and shirts. We’ve been big fans of the ScotteVest gear for a while now because it allows dad to carry all of his gear from cameras to the iPad without looking like a dork. Seriously, the pockets in these devices will accommodate all types of gear for around town or heading off on an adventure.

ScotteVest is having a Father’s Day sale right now, that allows you to get jackets, hoodies and shirts at 30% off. The standard ScotteVest Travel vest isn’t on sale, but is well worth the $100 price tag.

LightScoop – $30

If Dad is a shutterbug, the Lightscoop is a great choice. This handy little DSLR accessory will snap on to his camera and bounce the flash off the ceiling or the wall for better photos. Rather than washing out the image or delivering a deer in the headlights look, the Lightscoop bounces the photos off your surroundings for better lighting.

The Lightscoop is probably a better fit for budding photographer dads, rather than a pro photographer who likely has a full lightbox and studio setup on hand.

Eye Fi – $49.99 and up

Another good Father’s Day gift is the Eye-Fi X2 SD card which connects to wireless networks and iPhone or Android devices to upload your photos to your computer and to the web without any wires.

We really like the ability to upload our photos automatically to our computer and to the Eye Fi Center which allows us to share them with family members on the iPad rather than the small screen of our camera. Dad can choose to selectively upload photos to Facebook and many other websites to automatically share. We like the control, which keeps unwanted photos from going public. Check out our Eye Fi Review.

WetCiruits 4 Outlet Water Resistant Rugged Power Strip – $70

This is not an ordinary power outlet. Sure it is a little expensive but how many power strips from WalMart will withstand pouring water into them or having Junior stick a pair of metal tweezers in one of the outlets and survive without even a shock? With the WetCircuits power strip pouring water on it while it is plugged in and in use has no effect. The water is kept out of the actual circuit. Putting a set of tweezers down into the outlet will not shock anyone. We know because we tested it. Check out the video below.

This thing is great for plugging in a number of things like a laptop, a video projector, and your cell phone while you are working at a table with people drinking coffee or while outdoors at a beach or park.

Razer Orochi Bluetooth Laser Mouse – $79.99

There might be a better mobile mouse out there, but after testing a bunch of Bluetooth mobile mice, we don’t think there is a better Bluetooth mobile mouse available. Designed primarily for gamers in mind, this mouse is also great as an everyday mouse. In fact, we use it that way with the notebooks we use most o the time. You can view our full review and video and decide for yourself. Dad will love this mouse whether he’s a gamer or not.

Cadence 4-bit Binary Watch – $90

This is less a tech gift and more a gift for a techie. If your dad is a geek he will love this binary watch. From a distance it looks like any casual analog watch. Up close you realize that instead of Latin or Roman numerals each hour is represented by a four digit binary number.

Fitbit – $99

If dad is a data geek, tracking and analyzing anything he can put into a number, he may like the fitbit. This small device clips onto his pocket or belt and tracks steps, miles walked, activity, calories burned and can even track his sleep habits. The fitbit is $99 and includes access to the fitbit website for tracking fitbit stats and can log eating habits(he’ll have to do this manually though). If he wants to go deeper into the data and gain comparisons to other people in his age group he can upgrade to the premium account for $49 a year.

We’ve been using a fitbit for the past few weeks and we really like that the fitbit can handle being worn day to day at the office, in the yard or out on a long walk without any worries of it falling off or breaking. The fitbit battery lasts a whole week and uploads data to the fitbit website whenever you get within 15 feet of the base station which is attached to your computer. The fitbit isn’t waterproof, but it can handle being washed off and reportedly can survive a drop into the toilet. Below you’ll see just a snippet of the data fitbit records.

One of our favorite uses has been to monitor our sleep habits. With the included armband dad can wear the fitbit while you sleep and it will monitor how often he wakes up and moves during the night.

Booq Bag Computer Backpack – Starting at $129.95

We think Booq makes some nice computer bags and backpacks. They have almost any style you prefer, but we like the backpack style the best. The Boa Squeeze is their least expensive backpack bag. They sell sizes that fit anything from a 13″ up to a 17″ computer. They offer great protection and will look cool doing it. Dad will be very happy with this bag or any of the other styles. Maybe he likes a something more like a messenger bag with a flap, a simple sleeve, or a briefcase style bag. They have them all. We also like the Cobra Courier which is a messenger style bag with a sleeve to protect your notebook. It comes it at $195.

Plantronics Voyager Pro UC 2 Bluetooth Headset – $199

Bluetooth headsets are for the most part poor performers when you actually start to use them, but not the Plantronics Voyager Por UC 2. This headset is the smartest Bluetooth headset we have ever used and the only one we have stuck with for more than a few weeks. It’s so good, we gave it an Editor’s Choice award at GottaBeMobile.com.

The reason we love this bluetooth headset so much is that it is smart enough to know when you want to use it and when you don’t. With a normal Bluetooth headset, audio will be sent to the headset even if it is in your bag or out in the car. The Plantronics Voyager Pro UC 2 knows when you have it on your ear and when you don’t, allowing it to route the audio to the right place. The headset will even auto answer calls when you put it on your ear. This model includes a Bluetooth adapter so that you can use it with your PC or Mac as well.

Android Phone – Various Prices

As popular as the iPhone is, we think an Android phone might be a nice way to reward dad this year. They are easy to use and have a lot of powerful features. Recommending just one is hard since not all phones are available with all carriers. So here are our recommendations for the carrier that old dad is using. These come from our sister site’s list of the top 5 phones for May 2011.

LG G2x – T-Mobile – $200

It has a fantastic 4-inch LCD display, HSPA+ 4G speeds and it has the ability to capture 1080p which is something most top of the line smartphones aren’t able to do.

HTC Droid Incredible 2 – Verizon – $80

We recently previewed the HTC Droid Incredible 2, the successor of the wildly popular Droid Incredible, and came away very impressed. The increase in display size from 3.7 to 4-inches works well and doesn’t add any additional bulk.

Its single-core 1GHz processor is quick and it comes with almost an identical form factor to the original Droid Incredible.  Add in all the other bells and whistles and you have yourself a fantastic 3G phone.

Motorola Atrix 4G – AT&T – $99

The Motorola Atrix is the flagship Android device on AT&T and like the G2x, it can be considered a superphone because of the fantastic specifications it has on board. It packs a high-resolution display, dual-core processor and a massive battery to boot.

HTC Thunderbolt – Verizon – $249

The ThunderBolt is essentially an HTC EVO with 4G LTE speeds, which as you’ll see in a second, isn’t a bad thing whatsoever. The hardware is solid, the software as well and with an upgrade to Gingerbread coming in the not-so-distant future, the ThunderBolt is worthy of this list.

Amazon Kindle eBook Reader – $114, $139, or $189

There are a number of good eBook readers available, but the best one for the simple task of reading books is still the Kindle. The iPad is the premium do-it-all device. The Nook Color wants to be. But if all you want is an eBook reader cheap, the ad-supported Kindle is the best option. It is only $114 and the ads are not that intrusive. It requires a Wi-Fi signal to shop, download books, and sync things like bookmarks, highlights or notes, but can be read anywhere.

HP dm1z Notebook Computer – $449

Not quite a netbook, the diminutive HP dm1z series of notebooks is a great choice for an ultra-portable budget notebook for the mobile dad who needs a business notebook that can handle almost any basic task you throw at it. More powerful than a little netbook, he will be more happy too. It is an 11.6″ system with a dual-core AMD Fusion processor. The AMD Radeon 6310 graphics makes this little system a lot more powerful than you would think. The 1366×768 display makes it 720p HD capable, great for watching HD videos downloaded from one of the various video buying or rental sites. For an extra $129 you can get dad an external Blu-ray drive too. HP promises 9.5 hours from the battery. If you only get the typical two-thirds of the promised battery life that it still around 6 hours. It has VGA and HDMI output for presentations or hooking up to a TV.

Apple iPad 2 – $499 – $829

This is likely one of the number one requested tech gifts this Father’s Day. It is still the standard for tablet devices despite all that people are trying to do to unseat it with Android-based devices. The huge app ecosystem and accessories market make it the number one device. It is dead simple to use and one of the most versatile computing devices ever made.

Our sister site did a very comprehensive iPad 2 review if you want to read up before taking this big a plunge. Just know that if you can afford it, dad will be extremely happy with you. We suggest a sweet spot of 32GB with 3G if you can afford it. That model is $729. Take one step back and go with the 32GB wi-fi only model for $599 if possible.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 – $1399

Not officially ready till May 24, this business class notebook is one of the nicest we’ve seen this year. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 was give the editor’s choice award by our editor, Josh Smith. He said:

The ThinkPad X1 shows a now look for Lenovo and includes a collection of features and design changes which exciting and new. Lenovo has been able to add to the ThinkPad features we love, like durability and an amazing keyboard, without compromising on why businesses choose to equip their employees with ThinkPads. The ThinkPad X1 shows that the company can adapt and bring consumer features like high-end audio and backlit keys to the traditional ThinkPad line. Lenovo may still need a bit more time to perfect the mousepad, but the ThinkPad X1 is without a doubt the best ThinkPad we have had a chance to use.

The ThinkPad X1 we looked at had a 2.5GHz 2nd generation Intel Core i5-520M processor. It also included 4GB RAM and a 320GB hard drive. The display is powered by Intel 3000 HD integrated graphics. The glossy 13.3″ screen is made with a gorilla glass wich makes it durable and particularly scratch resistant. The computer is 3.73 pounds and between .65″ and .84″ in thickness. The 6 cell battery gives you over four hours and the optional slice adds another four hours. Please read our comprehensive review for more detailed information.

Additional Reporting by Josh Smith

Father’s Day 2011: 21 Awesome Tech Gift Ideas for Dad is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Starting today, you can purchase the ThinkPad X1 with a base price of $1,199 for the Intel Core i3 Sandy Bridge processor model or $1,304 for the Core i5 powered ThinkPad X1 which won an Editor’s Choice award in our review.

You can pickup the ThinkPad X1 today, with expected delivery in 8 business days. The current options include your choice of a Core i3 or Core i5 second generation Intel processor, solid state hard drives, integrated mobile broadband and more.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Shipping with $1,199 Core i3 Starting Price, Core i5 at $1,304 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

While the drop is impressive, it would have been even more impressive to see the notebook dropped on an edge or while open. Still, it’s a feat we haven’t seen taken on with a notebook since the Panasonic Toughbook was dropped to the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Watch the ThinkPad X1 Survive a Drop From The Ceiling (Video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The retail pricing on our ThinkPad X1 review model is a respectable $1,399, or $1,549 with the external slice battery. While you won’t be outfitting every employee in your organization with the X1, it offers a high-end experience for users that demand a premium ThinkPad.

The ThinkPad X1 is a surprising business notebook that brings many consumer features, like incredible sound and a backlit keyboard, to the enterprise. While other business notebooks come with similar features, the execution and typical high end keyboard from Lenovo continues to set the standard in how a notebook keyboard should look and feel. Dolby Home Theater v4 is impressively packed into this rugged enterprise notebook and quite literally will blow you away the first time you hear it.

The X1 comes in nearly a pound lighter than the ThinkPad T420, yet doesn’t need to sacrifice on power or ports with USB 3.0, HDMI and DisplayPort standard. Topping off the X1 is the notebook’s amazing RapidCharge battery technology that takes you from zero to 80 percent in 30 minutes. We were surprised just how fast the X1 charged, even while we used it.

The feature set on the ThinkPad X1 comes together to deliver a business notebook you’ll actually want to use at home, even if you have a MacBook Pro nearby. For all these reasons, we have given the ThinkPad X1 our Notebooks.com Editor’s Choice award.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Quick Specs:

The ThinkPad X1 model we are reviewing has a 2.5GHz 2nd Generation Intel Core i5-520M processor, 4GB RAM, a 320GB hard drive and Intel 3000 HD integrated graphics. The screen is glossy and measures 13.3″ with a gorilla glass finish that protects against scratches.

The X1 weighs in at 3.73 pounds and measures between .65″ and .84″ in thickness. This includes the built in 6 cell 38.92 Whr battery. The external slice battery which our unit is bundled with is a 6 cell 35.5WHr battery.

Who is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 For?

The ThinkPad X1 is similar in size to a traditional ThinkPad business notebook, but the tapered design and feel give it a standout place in the ThinkPad lineup. The ThinkPad X1 will typically be seen in the hands of mobile professionals and road warriors.

The small package which can be combined with an optional slice battery provides multiple configurations which road warriors will appreciate. Finally, the ability to charge your battery up to 80% capacity while on a short layover at an airport is feature that will make the rest of the road crew jealous — especially because it really works.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Hands On Video:

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Build and Design:

The ThinkPad X1 has a rollcage design that adds to the overall durability and ruggedness of the unit. The edges of this machine are absolutely rigid, unwilling to bend despite the application of quite a bit of force. This carries through the center of the device, which has a small amount of flex, but nothing you will notice during normal usage.

As far as looks go, the tapered edges help make the notebook look slimmer than it is, much like the tapered edges we find on most smartphones. The materials also have a nice feel to them, with a slightly rubberized deck that feels nice while you are working for long periods at a time.

Lenovo ThinkPad Promo Video Showing Rugged Features

The notebook has solid and sturdy hinges which allow you to open the display completely flat if needed. These hinges actually play into the durability of the notebook. Lenovo tells us that the metal hinges add strength to the top and bottom of the notebooks which helps the system survive a drop from 1.6M onto corners.

The idea isn’t that the system won’t suffer any damage, but that you will still be able to use the system. We didn’t drop test our system, but the included MILSPEC ratings for humidity, temperature, sand, altitude, vibration and mechanical shock should provide enough durability to handle many of the abuses that a notebook will suffer in the hands of a road warrior.

ThinkPad X1 vs. ThinkPad T400:

We are sure many of you want to know how the X1 compares in looks to the traditional ThinkPad line of enterprise notebooks. You can see a side by side comparison of the ThinkPad X1 and the ThinkPad T series business notebook in the shot below and in the gallery at the bottom of the ThinkPad X1 review. Note how the tapered edges deliver a much sleeker profile on the X1.

ThinkPad X1 vs. ThinkPad T Series

When compared to the ThinkPad T400 series notebooks, and even the slimmer ThinkPad T420s, the ThinkPad X1 comes with a higher price tag ($400 more than a T420 and $200 more than a T420s with similar specs), but it will provide additional value when deployed to a salespeople who primarily use their notebooks and smartphones as their tools.

Rather than leave their business notebook in the office, the X1 will likely go with employees and earn a spot as their go to tool thanks to premium audio, a backlit keyboard and RapidCharging. Instead of an additional cost, businesses would be well served to look at the X1′s premium price as an investment in their highly mobile employees, rather than perks saved solely for executives who want a higher priced notebook.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 vs. MacBook Air

The ThinkPad X1 is, going to draw comparisons to the ultrasleek MacBook Air just like any new ultraportable will. While the ThinkPad X1 doesn’t come in as thin or light as the MacBook Air, it does bring many things the Air doesn’t like a backlit keyboard, 2nd Gen Intel Core i5 processor and USB 3.0. Take a look at how the ThinkPad X1 compared to the MacBook Air below.

ThinkPad X1 vs. MacBook Air

MacBook Air & ThinkPad X1 Side by Side

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Features:

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 comes with a collection of features that combine to deliver what you would expect from a ThinkPad, and perhaps a bit more.

Rapid Charge – Perhaps one of the biggest new features is the RapidCharge technology which allows you to quickly top off the battery when you are near an outlet. We were impressed by the speed with which the battery charged, even while we used the notebook without restraint.

Dolby Home Theater v4 – Skip down to the sound section for more, but in short the Dolby Home Theater v4 delivers sound that you wouldn’t expect in a business notebook. Whether you listen on your headphones, watch movies in hotel rooms or use the notebook to pitch to a room of buyers the sound will impress.

Keyboard - We’ll cover this in more depth, but the ThinkPad X1 uses the newer ThinkPad style keys and for the first time offers backlit keys. Additionally, the keyboard has two large drain-holes to protect your notebook from accidental spills.

VOIP Applications – Check out the webcam section for more details, but Lenovo has taken steps to improve your video conferencing experience. From the low light-sensitive webcam to the additional controls that let you focus in one just yourself or open up the conversation to the room, it’s no ordinary VOIP experience.

ThinkVantage Software – The built in ThinkVantage software delivers a collection of system utilities, but the one that impressed us most was the power manager software which provides a slider that allows you to adjust for battery life. Sliding to the right will decrease screen brightness and CPU power to increase battery life.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Display:

The display on the ThinkPad X1 is quite bright, rated at 350 NITS, and that’s a good thing because the display is glossy rather than the traditional anti-glare you’ll find on business notebooks. The display is covered edge to edge by Corning Gorilla Glass which provides protection from scratches. As far as viewing angles go, the notebook has good side to side viewing angles which would allow you to share the screen with another person while watching a movie or working on a presentation. Vertical viewing angles are also nice, as is the ability to tilt the display all the way back so that you can find a good angle on a tray table, car seat, counter or while on the couch.

Corning Gorilla Glass Display on the ThinkPad X1

While the protective Gorilla Glass is a nice addition to this notebook, we wish the display was anti-glare so that the notebook would be better suited for use outdoors or in harsh lighting conditions.

The resolution is a pretty typical 1366×768 resolution, which fits the 13.3″ display well. It would be nice to see a higher 1440×900 resolution on a high end notebook like this, but we’re guessing many of the end users will be OK with the standard resolution.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Keyboard and Touchpad:

The keyboard on the ThinkPad X1 is very nice with the great key spacing and key travel that we have come to expect from Lenovo. This is closer to the new style of ThinkPad keyboards which we have seen, a slight variation from the traditional ThinkPad experience, but in our opinion a good change.

The key placement is nice, with legacy keys taking a backseat so that you have easy access to the keys most users interact with most. The super size right Shift key is a nice touch. The only complaint we really have regarding placement are the PgUp and PgDn keys which take up space near the arrow keys and can make the up and left keys hard to find by touch.

The key travel is nice and the keys themselves also have a very nice feel. While some keyboards feel like you are typing on stone, this one is pleasant to type on for extended periods. We were able to type this review on the X1 at a pace that was a slight bit faster than we are accustomed to on our MacBook Air, even with a jammed finger. The keyboard is very solid with no flex in the center even with heavy typing.

This the first time Lenovo has included a backlit keyboard on a ThinkPad instead of the traditional keyboard light. We are impressed with their first backlit keyboard and prefer it to the light which normally lit up about half the keys. The X1 allows you to toggle between two levels of backlighting and off. We like that the backlight doesn’t bleed through the key spacing in a blinding fashion like some notebooks are apt to.

ThinkPad X1 VOIP Controls and Keyboard Closeup

The keyboard has handy VOIP and volume controls to the right of the keys. You can mute your microphone, mute the volume or raise and lower volume with these handy buttons which don’t require you to hunt for a Fn key while conferencing.

The ThinkPad X1 comes with a trackpad and the traditional ThinkPad UltraNav TrackPoint. The TrackPoint worked just as you would expect, delivering a precise mouse experience and the three buttons for the TrackPoint had the typical ThinkPad feel.

In addition, the ThinkPad X1 has a small mousepad with a textured surface that allows your fingers to move across it quickly. The entire mousepad is a clickable surface, which is something that definitely takes some getting used to. We found that the right click zone was a bit picky on occasion, but configured the mousepad to recognize a two finger click as a right click and quickly moved past this issue.

Clickable ThinkPad X1 Mousepad

The mouse supports multitouch gestures and clicks. In our experience the two finger scroll was pretty responsive. We found that you do need to have a decent amount of separation between your fingers to get the notebook to recognize two finger scroll, but it was something we adjusted to within a day of extended use.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Processor and Performance:

In terms of processing power, the 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 Sandy Bridge processor delivers a good deal of power and the ability to enter TurboBoost mode when you need more. We ran the ThinkPad X1 through a gauntlet of tests from opening large excel sheets and running numerous applications such as Skype, Excel, several Chrome Windows (playing video and audio), and even running Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 in the background. If you need even more power, you can turn on Lenovo Turbo Boost+ which lets TurboBoost run longer.

In short, the system delivers the performance we expect on a 2nd generation Core i5 powered system and can handle numerous tasks at the same time. Lenovo didn’t sacrifice and put a low voltage or last gen processor in here. The integrated graphics should suffice for most road warriors. Creative professionals will need to look for something with discrete graphics, but executives and sales staff will have more than enough power.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Multimedia and Gaming:

Based on the visuals and sound, you could easily confuse the ThinkPad X1 for a multimedia notebook. The Dolby Home Theater v4 audio which we cover below and the Intel integrated graphics are able to deliver 1080P content without pause. While watching numerous 1080p clips we didn’t have any stuttering or noticeable frame drops.

The ThinkPad X1 includes a low power multimedia mode which allows the notebook to turn off un-needed components while watching multimedia, allowing your battery to last longer. Lenovo claims a 30% boost, and while we weren’t able to scientifically test this, the X1 didn’t take the typical battery life hit while watching an hour long episode of SNL on Hulu.

As an added bonus, the ThinkPad X1 includes Intel Wireless Display, which will allow you to stream to connected HDTVs or projectors, provided you have a $99 WiDi adapter. This is a nice touch, and while WiDi adapters aren’t commonplace in conference rooms, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Intel Wireless Display making inroads into more homes and office this year.

If you need to relax, you can play some games on the integrated graphics. While Just Cause 2 was a bit too demanding, Portal 2 played perfectly on the ThinkPad X1, and was complemented by the Dolby Home Theater v4 game setting. While walking around a level with fire in it, the audio clearly let us know if the fire was to our left or right, though there wasn’t as much differentiation from front to back.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Audio and Speakers

The ThinkPad X1 comes with Dolby Home Theater v4, which delivers an audio experience that is nothing short of amazing. In addition to simply being louder than the audio found on many business notebooks the Dolby Home Theater v4 software delivers audio that really pops.

When you are watching a movie or listening to music over the built in speakers, you’ll notice a pretty incredible surround sound effect. For music, you’ll hear much more depth and feel as if you are listening on a nice pair of external speakers rather than built in business notebook speakers.

As far as volume goes, the ThinkPad X1 was able to provide loud and clear sound in our small apartment, and should be able to keep you entertained in a hotel room or deliver loud, quality audio for a sales pitch.

The low end isn’t going to deliver thumping bass, but the notebook does well enough that you can hear more of the low end than you would on a standard notebook. Listening to Money by Pink Floyd, we could hear the bass playing in the background and the highs were crisp and clear, leaving us feeling like we were in the cash register. As expected, the sound was clearly differentiated from right and left while listening.

Let’s face it; you won’t be blasting movies and music out the speakers while you are working on the plane or in a cafe, so headphones matter. The good news is that Dolby Home Theater v4 delivers on this front too. We tested the headphone experience with the Nox Scout headphones, which retail for $80 and deliver pretty good audio on their own. We tested out Money and had the same depth as before, with a bit more bass. Even the headphones can deliver a better audio experience for watching movies which delivers a 5.1 surround sound.

One other feature which is pretty impressive is the dialogue enhancement. If you remember the bar scene at the opening of Star Trek, you miss out on quite a bit of the background noise that really brings you into the bar while listening on a standard laptop. With Dolby Home Theater v4 you can hear all of that and still clearly hear Kirk get shot down at the bar.

Dolby Home Theater V4 doesn’t just make music and movies you watch locally sound better. Everything from YouTube clips to Pandora sounds better. Even YouTube clips shot by regular users, not studios, sound better.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Heat and Noise

As far as heat and noise go, the X1 can get warm during extended use, but the heat is mainly present on the bottom of the unit, which means you shouldn’t have sweaty palms after a four hour work session. The temps mainly climbed during video or processor intensive tasks.

The fan did run during these times, but wasn’t loud enough to distract us from watching media or to distract someone next to us from watching a TV show. Lenovo uses an “owl” fan which is designed to make less noise while spinning and offers five speeds so that it can adjust between a larger number of speeds.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Battery Life

The ThinkPad X1 is rated for 10 hours with the optional “slice battery” which is a reasonable rating given our browsing tests. We tested the ThinkPad X1 battery life with the Laptop Mag Battery Testing Tool which browses to common webpages with the screen set at 40% brightness until the battery dies.

ThinkPad X1 with Slice Battery

With the optional slice battery, which is more of a wedge that gives you a nice typing angle, we were able to achieve 8 hours and 20 minutes. With the standard built in 6 cell battery, we achieved 4 hours and 20 minutes of battery life.

If you are using this notebook on the road, we suggest going for the slice battery option so that you can easily make it through a full day of work without recharging. While it would be nice to have an 8 hour battery built in, we do like the flexibility of a slice battery which can stay at the office on shorter day trips and travel with you when you need it.

If you don’t opt for the slice battery, you will still be able to get through a full day if you can find 30 minutes to charge while you eat lunch or are on a short layover. The built in battery will charge up to 80% in 30 minutes using Lenovo RapidCharge technology. We tested this out numerous times and RapidCharge works! Best of all, you can use the notebook while it is charging without sacrificing the speedy charging. We were able to top off the battery in about 50 minutes.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Connectivity:

The ThinkPad X1 has a collection of common business ports and connectivity options including Bluetooth and Wireless connectivity. There is an option for an integrated 3G mobile broadband connection, but our review unit was not equipped with this.

Left Side: USB 2.0, Headphone/Mic Combo, Vent

Right Side: Wireless Switch, 4-in-1 SD card Reader

Rear: Ethernet, SIM Card Slot, USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort, eSATA USB 2.0 Combo port with Charge Function, Power, Kensington

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Webcam:

The ThinkPad X1 comes with a low-light sensitive webcam which delivers a good quality image, though colors are difficult to distinguish in low light settings. Add sufficient light and it was clear enough for the caller on the other end to clearly see our bright orange shirt and to tell that we had a haircut recently. In addition to the HD webcam, the X1 includes dual array microphones which, combined with the built in software tools allow you to gain greater control over the conversation.

The ThinkPad X1 includes several VOIP enhancements in addition to the easy to access VOIP controls. First is the option to focus in on one user so that you can be on a conference call that doesn’t pick up the noise of others around you without the need to find a headset. You can toggle this control to multiple voice mode to include others in your call, such as at a conference table, allowing your computer to be the speakerphone.

ThinkPad X1 VOIP Settings

The built in VOIP software also includes noise cancellation which is designed to prevent the other side of the conversation from hearing your keystrokes during a video call. This setting will quiet the keystrokes, but won’t always silence them. Based on our test calls about half the callers could hear our keystrokes, but reported that the keys were quieter with the noise suppression enabled.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Warranty:

The ThinkPad X1 comes with a one year warranty, but can be purchased with up to a 3 year warranty. Lenovo hasn’t announced pricing for the X1 warranty plans, but we expect them to be in line with the ThinkPad X series which starts at $119 for a three year warranty extension and goes up to $269 for a 3 year priority onsite warranty and 3 year ThinkPad protection. The ThinkPad X1 sealed battery is covered for up to 3 years with the purchase of a 3 year extended warranty, though the battery warranty only covers a portion of the cost of a new battery.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Software:

The ThinkPad X1 comes free of the crapware you would commonly find on a consumer system and actually has a helping of useful software and tools built in. In addition to the VOIP software and Power manager tools we have already talked about the ThinkPad X1 comes with the full suite of ThinkVantage tools that will help you manage the system from backing up to using the fingerprint reader for security.

One more nice touch is Instant Resume, which will keep your WiFi connection active when the lid is shut, allowing you to close your notebook and go to another office or conference room without reconnecting. Lenovo added this function after observing that users often walked from room to room with their notebooks open, an activity which can be awkward to accomplish and dangerous if the notebook is dropped.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Value:

The ThinkPad X1 is definitely a premium system, and more expensive than a similarly spec’d ThinkPad, but the numerous additional features like RapidCharge battery, backlit keys and the overall ruggedness and design go a long way in making the higher price worth it for road warriors, especially with prices for a well equipped model starting at $1,399.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Conclusion:

The ThinkPad X1 shows a now look for Lenovo and includes a collection of features and design changes which exciting and new. Lenovo has been able to add to the ThinkPad features we love, like durability and an amazing keyboard, without compromising on why businesses choose to equip their employees with ThinkPads. The ThinkPad X1 shows that the company can adapt and bring consumer features like high end audio and backlit keys to the traditional ThinkPad line. Lenovo may still need a bit more time to perfect the mousepad, but the ThinkPad X1 is without a doubt the best ThinkPad we have had a chance to use.

Hopefully we will see similar features and design cues make their way to the rest of the ThinkPad line of notebooks in the coming months. We already have Dolby Digital Home Theater v4 on the ThinkPad Edge lines, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see it arrive on more systems, hopefully with Backlit keys in tow.

Pros:

• Design makes the X1 look and feel lighter than it is.
• RapidCharge Battery charges to 80% over a quick lunch.
• Backlit keyboard with great key travel and spacing.
• Amazing Sound
• VOIP optimizations
• MILSpec Ruggedness

Cons:

• Glossy display
• Need slice battery to last all day
• Small clickable touchpad can be finicky

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Gallery:

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Detailed Specs:

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Review – Performance, Comparisons and Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.